Conservatives deal with facts and reach conclusions; liberals have conclusions and sell them as facts.

Reflections on Iraq…and Syria

Yes, we won the war in Iraq and, as the inimitable Walter Russell Mead points out, we may have changed the course of history. Sure, it’s still early and there are many events that still have to play themselves out, but Iraq today is a country at relative peace surrounded by dangerous turbulence.

The remaining question, though, is what happens to the rest of the Middle East? In the name of “human rights”, the U.S. administration attacks Libya, the only Arab regime that had negotiated a working relationship with the U.S post-Iraq, while playing nice with a Syrian regime that slaughters demonstrators does this to children (WARNING: Graphic Description):

Meanwhile, talks are underway to give $20 billion in aid borrowed from China to a soon-to-be Muslim Brotherhood-led Egypt, one dedicated to the persecution of its large Christian minority, while all efforts are made to undermine a normal, pluralistic and civilized country’s ability to defend itself.

There may be a larger strategic calculus at work here, but it certainly is hard to discern.

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Meanwhile, talks are underway to give $20 billion in aid borrowed from China to a soon-to-be Muslim Brotherhood-led Egypt, one dedicated to the persecution of its large Christian minority, while all efforts are made to undermine a normal, pluralistic and civilized country’s ability to defend itself.There may be a larger strategic calculus at work here, but it certainly is hard to discern.

Egypt is already engaging in acts that are violations of the Israel-Egypt peace treaty. The treaty is dead. The new Egyptian leadership just hasn’t officially announced their repudiation of it yet.

And what of “the larger strategic calculus”? There’s some analysis and supportive declarations within the Admin itself that this what our Obama Admin is up to:
– Deliberately create linkage between the Palestinian refugee problem and the Iran threat.
– “First we solve the Palestinian refugee problem”, and that will generate goodwill towards the USA across the region. Then that enthusiasm and goodwill allows us to tackle Iran.

One wonders if Obama even cares a whit whether Israel is ever allowed to “live in peace”. Or whether he finds it a completely illegitimate state. I’d *love* to hear his remarks at that farewell dinner for the jihadist, the video that the LA Times is keeping under lock and key, refusing to release.

I’m sure I’m not the only one that finds this “linkage” policy to be ridiculous, especially that there will be “goodwill” towards us. There will never be goodwill towards us by these Middle East actors.

None of them – none of them! – have any intention of ever accepting Israel as a legitimate nation. Their culture is steeped in the honor-shame mentality, which I think precedes their adoption even of Islam. And their cultural and theocratic immersion into Islam/Shariah means Israel is a vicious thorn in their sides merely due to its very existence itself. Only Islam is allowed to exist across the Middle East! Israel is an affront to Allah and must be wiped clean! They deeply dishonored and ashamed every day Israel continues to exist. How do you ever get past that?

There appears to be no possible way the Palestinians or their Arab neighbors will ever truly allow Israel to live in peace. The best Israel can hope for is that they’ll continue to grudgingly hold their militaries in check. And Iran/Syria/Hezbollah/Hamas certainly have no intentions of that. How far Egypt will proceed against Israel, militarily, under the Muslim Brotherhood now, is anyone’s guess.

Mike Devx

Apologies, Danny, I keep assuming Book is the author, even when you are!

Charles Martel

Mike, I think Zach has expounded elsewhere on this site that the Palestinians, once their motivations are understood, can be appealed to on a rational basis to address Israel’s security concerns.

I suppose the only fly in the ointment is if the Palestinians, rather than having the same rational motivations as the Israelis—or Zach for that matter—are irrationally motivated by the shame-honor/Islamic cultural imperatives you describe.

How does a kulak talk a commissar out of executing him? What words can he say that will talk the man out of it?

How does a Jew talk a Nazi out of gassing him? What words can he say that will talk the man out of it?

How does a black man talk a Klansman out of hanging him? What words can he say that will talk the man out of it?

How does an Israeli talk a member of Hamas out of blowing him up? What words can he say that will talk the man out of it?

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